Leadership & professional development: Coaching to develop clinicians, teachers, and leaders
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From business to athletics to medicine, coaching is used to help individuals optimize their professional performance, achieve their personal best, and improve their well-being. Coaching can be used to empower others to self-reflect and identify solutions to their own challenges through alignment with their goals, values, and priorities. Coaching is centered around the individual's own agenda. A coach does not need to be an expert on the topic and asks questions to help the individual define goals, gain insight into their situation and needs, and consider options to navigate their own challenges. A coach uses reflective questioning, goal-setting, and brainstorming, among other techniques.
As hospitalists, there are many opportunities where we can bring a coaching approach to our daily work with learners, patients and family members, and nursing and other ancillary staff. This article will discuss the differences between advising, mentoring, and coaching, and how hospitalists can use a coaching approach in their professional interactions.
